Palace of Whitehall

The Palace of Whitehall was the main residence of the English monarchs from 1530 to 1698, when most of its structures were destroyed by fire. The palace is located in Westminster, Middlesex, England, and it was built in 1240 by Archbishop Walter de Grey of York. Cardinal Garnet Wolsey expanded the palace during the 16th century, and it served as his residence until King Henry VIII of England removed the cardinal from power in 1530, upon which Henry made the palace his primary London residence. The 1,500-room palace was the largest palace in Europe until the construction of the Palace of Versailles in 1661, and the site which it once occupied became a street, on which many of the current administrative buildings of the British government are situated.